toll free 800-317-3639
phone 503-285-4541

Industry Spotlight: Falk Gearboxes for Gold Mining Facilities

Mining applications demand the toughest machinery. Heavy loads and rugged, dirty environments require impenetrable, high-torque gear reducers to keep operations humming along. That’s why we recommend Falk gearboxes for mining facilities such as Round Mountain Gold Mine in Nevada.

Within the mining industry, gear reducers are primarily used to slow down the motors in conveyors and crushers, converting raw power into the torque needed to crush through rock and haul heavy loads up out of the earth.

Mining Conveyors

Ore conveyor systems are built to transport large volumes of rock out of the mines for processing – sometimes hauling ore over miles of terrain. (The longest conveyor in the world belongs to a phosphate mine in West Sahara and spans approximately 62 miles.) For these applications, speed takes a backseat to muscle, as plenty of reliable torque is needed to continually move heavy loads.

The Falk shaft mount reducer is a top choice for mining conveyor systems, as it packs a powerful torque output within a compact footprint. Its ability to mount directly onto the driven shaft eliminates unnecessary bulk and allows the Falk shaft mount reducer to slip into the minimal spaces often found in conveyor assemblies. Concentric and parallel shaft reducers are also commonly used in conveyor systems.

Mining Crushers

Like conveyors, ore crushers require plenty of torque to crush large rocks into smaller pieces, making it easier to differentiate valuable ore from the surrounding rock. Types of crushers include:

  • Jaw crushers: These vertical mechanical jaws act as a nutcracker, crushing the material progressively smaller as it travels downward.
  • Cone crushers: A cone crusher uses a gyrating spindle to squeeze the rock against an outer encasement. The materials become smaller as they move through the crusher.
  • Impact crushers: These devices use impact (rather than pressure) to break up rock. A horizontal impactor uses hammers, while a vertical impactor employs the velocity of a high-speed rotor to throw the material against a crushing chamber.

Falk gearboxes are manufactured to withstand the punishing conditions found in most mining applications. Known for their reliability and long life span, Falk gearboxes offer a variety of design features that allow for easy maintenance, even in dirty mining environments.

Need help selecting the right coupling?